United Nations (Hansard, 14 May 1991)

§ Q4. Mr. Cryer
To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to pay an official visit to the United Nations.

§ The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so. However, I am in regular contact with the secretary-general.

§ Mr. Cryer
In view of the withdrawal of the Valiant Churchill class of nuclear submarines due to dangerous defects in their nuclear reactors, would it not be prudent for the Prime Minister to withdraw all Polaris nuclear submarines, which have identical defects in their nuclear reactors? At the same time, he could cancel the Trident programme and announce that his Government are supporting the United Nations—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Hon. Members should give the hon. Gentleman a chance to get to a conclusion.

§ Mr. Cryer
The Prime Minister could announce that his Government were supporting the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation treaty; the 141 states which have signed that treaty have pledged not to deploy or manufacture nuclear weapons.

§ Mr. Speaker
Briefly, please.

§ Mr. Cryer
Billions of pounds could then be released for the national health service in this country and for the millions of poor in other countries throughout the world.

§ The Prime Minister
Someone spoke a moment ago about the true face of the Labour party. I think that we have just heard it. I happen to be in favour of our maintaining a nuclear defence. That will be our position in the future. I am interested to learn from what the hon. Gentleman has said that that may not be the position of the Opposition.